South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1887-07-29
ALL IN THE FAMILY. f"
A DETECTIVES STORY.

One of the hardest things in detective
life is for the officer To be obliged to re-
port on family matters. No matter how
long he has been in the business. or how
fircproof he has become. the detective
who can make a report which he knows
will break up family and bring wretch
edness to half dozen persons, is a scarce
article. That Is, he will report to his
chief verbally or by letter. and thus let
the information getto those who hunger
for it and yet dread to hear the truth.
a fair share of the detective business
OF every city in the land hinges upon fam
lily matters, and the work done seldom
appears in print, or if tho newspaper re-
portcrs get hold of the circumstance. the
particulars are kept away from them.
For long term of years my assignments
as detective connected with the force
in one of our large cities, were entirely
OF this character, and some of the Incl
dents can be related without injury to
any ones feelings. | did not associate
with the criminal detectives at all. and
the majority of them did not know me
by name.
One morning / was sent for by the
Chief to take up new case, and when I
entered his office | found lady present.
She was woman not over % wears oS
age, handsome, educated and "a society
ornament. She was the second wife of
rich old wholesale merchant whom T
will call Williams. They had been mar
RED about year and half, and it was
sad that II was "A love match. She had
come to headquarters in her own carriage
in broad daylight to tell her story to the
Chlei and seek the services of n detective
l may tell you that | was prejudiccd in
her favor from the very first glance She
was one of those women whose every
word is Of interest, and whose
every gesture has touch OF art
lessness In 1t. And she could
shed big tears, and catch little
sobs, and put such look into her brown
eyes as would make even an old dctec
tive almost want to die for her When
her story had been simmercd down il
amounted to this: For some time MAST
she had been missing jewelry and sums
of money. A private detective had been
employed, but had met with no success
In discovering the thief One robbery
included valuable diamond ring; an
other pair of earrings; third the sum
of 800 in gold fourth the sum Of
$500 in greenbacks. About ten davs
previous to her visit package of $12. 900
had been taken from her husbands sec.
rotary, and at the same time she had
missed diamond brooch from her dress
ing case. One of the regular detectives
had been working on this last stcal for
over week, and was still at il. altbouob
he had thus far been unable TO secure a
clue.
IL was not only natural that Mrs. vii.
liams should be interested i'm tho recov-
cry Of the property, hut that her great
interest should lead her to call at head
quarters 10 consult with the chief
In fact, her husband was con.
fined to his room by an attack Of
govt, and, for all VIC knew to the
contrary, it was by his advice that she
came. II would appear sharper in me TO
say that ] suspected something wrong
from the very start, but honesty compcIs
me to say that ! didn't When she had
departed the chief said to me:
"This looks like q very simple case
and ! can't sec why Taylor has not
picked up some clue The robberics
have been pcrpctratcd by some Of the
servants, and I'll give YOU fortnight TO
trap the guilty party.
| was at liberty 10 consult TAYLOR
The only servants who had access 10 the
bedroom were the chambcrmaid and tbe
butler This last parsonage had no right
there, Of course but having the run Of
the house he could slip into the room
Taylor had suspected him. rather than
the chambcrmaid, and had devoted his
whole time to watching the man. Moth
ing but disappointment had turned up.
The butler had the best Of recommend
tions, was without vices Of any sort. and
search Of his effects had brought moth
ing TO light which could implicate him.
II was agreed that should look out for
the chambermaid, and put in week
ON the case TO end out that she also had
BE best Of recommendation and that